Nation’s first all-electric tugboat docks in San Diego

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The nation’s first fully battery-powered tugboat is set to begin operating from southern California’s Port of San Diego later this spring. (Canary Media)

ALSO: Nevada officials expect a state incentive program aimed at replacing diesel truck fleets with zero-emission vehicles to launch late this year after months of delays. (Nevada Independent)

UTILITIES:

• Xcel Energy says its first ever planned outage to reduce wildfire risk likely prevented its lines in Colorado from sparking a blaze during last weekend’s unusually severe winds, but some customers say they weren’t adequately warned. (CPR)
• Agencies lower Tri-State Generation & Transmission’s bond ratings after the Colorado wholesale power supplier fails to secure a rate increase and loses four member cooperatives. (Colorado Sun)

GRID: Analysts predict NV Energy would lose nearly $100 million in annual benefits by leaving the Western energy imbalance market to join the Southwest Power Pool’s competing day-ahead power market. (RTO Insider, subscription)

OIL & GAS: Colorado environmental groups call on state regulators to revoke a Denver-area petroleum refinery’s water permit, saying it will allow toxic chemicals to leak into waterways and contaminate residential neighborhoods. (Colorado Sun)

CLIMATE:

• Arizona Republican lawmakers propose ballot measures that would block local governments from banning gas-powered leaf blowers or adopting climate plans. (E&E News)
• Montana labor leaders testify against a proposed rule that would require regulators to consider climate change’s effects in their decisions, claiming it would lead to ​“massive job loss.” (Daily Montanan)

SOLAR: Indigenous advocates protest a proposed solar development in central Washington state, saying it threatens cultural resources. (High Country News)

HYDROPOWER: A developer plans to begin construction later this year on a pumped hydropower energy storage project in southern Oregon pending final regulatory approval. (OPB)

BIOFUELS: A Hawaii firm calls on regulators to allow its idled 21.5 MW biomass plant to come online, saying it would solve the state’s short-term power shortage. (Hawaii Public Radio)

DIVESTMENT: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signs a bill requiring the state’s public employee retirement fund to end new investments in thermal coal and phase out holdings of related stocks. (P&I)

MINING:

• Lithium mining companies battle over rights to limited groundwater resources in southern Nevada. (Inside Climate News)
• Indigenous advocates push back against plans to restart long-idled uranium mines in Utah due to health and environmental impacts. (Fox 13)

CARBON CAPTURE: A Wyoming university develops an interactive tool aimed at helping users understand the mechanics of an underground carbon sequestration project. (Gillette News-Record)